LINDA PERRITA ¿O NO?

Issa est passere nequior Catulli,
Issa est purior osculo columbae,
Issa est blandior omnibus puellis,
Issa est carior Indicis lapillis,
Issa est deliciae catella Publi.
Hanc tu, si queritur, loqui putabis;
Sentit tristitiamque gaudiumque.
Collo nixa cubat capitque somnos,
Vt suspiria nulla sentiantur;
Et desiderio coacta uentris
Gutta pallia non fefellit ulla,
Sed blando pede suscitat toroque
Deponi monet et rogat leuari.
Castae tantus inest pudor catellae,
Ignorat Venerem; nec inuenimus
Dignum tam tenera uirum puella.
Hanc ne lux rapiat suprema totam,
Picta Publius exprimit tabella,
In qua tam similem uidebis Issam,
Vt sit tam similis sibi nec ipsa.
Issam denique pone cum tabella:
Aut utramque putabis esse ueram,
Aut utramque putabis esse pictam
(Martialis Epigrammaton Liber Primus, I, CIX)



Isa es más picaruela que el gorrión de Catulo.
Isa es más pura que el beso de una paloma.
Isa es más cariñosa que todas las niñas.
Isa es más preciosa que las perlas de la India.
Isa es la perrita de Publio, sus delicias.
Si se queja, creerás que habla.
Siente la tristeza y el gozo.
Apoyada sobre su cuello, se recuesta y coge el sueño,
de suerte que no se la oye ni respirar.
Y, obligada por la necesidad del vientre,
jamás ha ensuciado ni con una gota un cobertor,
sino que llama la atención delicadamente con su patita
y avisa que la bajen del diván y pide que la suban.
Hay tanto pudor en esta casta perrita,
que no conoce a Venus y no hemos encontrado
un marido digno de tan delicada doncella.
Para que el día supremo no se la robe del todo,
Publio la ha retratado pintada en una tabla:
en ella verás una Isa tan semejante,
que ni ella misma es tan parecida a sí misma.
En una palabra: si pones a Isa junto a su retrato,
ora pensarás que las dos son la de verdad,
ora pensarás que las dos son su retrato

(Traducción de José Guillén)http://marcusanniusverus.iespana.es/libros/marcial/marcial1.pdf



Issa is naughtier than Catullus' sparrow,
Issa is purer than a dove's kiss,
Issa is more endearing than all the girls,
Issa is dearer than Indian gemstones,
Issa is Publius' pet puppy.
If she complains, you will think she is speaking;
she feels sorrow and joy.
She lies up against his neck and takes her slumber,
in such a way that not one of her breaths is felt.
And when she is forced by the desire of her bladder,
she has never disappoints the bedspread by a single drop,
but with caressing paw she rouses him
and warns to put her down, and asks to be lifted up.
So great is the modesty within the chaste puppy
that she knows not of Venus; nor have we found
a man worthy of such a tender girl.
So that her final day might not snatch her away completely, Publius is producing her likeness in a painted board,
in which you will see an Issa so like her
that she herself is not so like herself.
So put Issa alongside the picture:
either you will think both are real,
or you will think both are painted.

Traducción enhttp://martialis.blogspot.com/2004/09/i109.html